The owner's servants came to him and said, "Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?"
"An enemy did this," he replied.
The servants asked him, "Do you want us to go and pull them up?"
"No," he answered, "because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters, first collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn." -- Matthew 13:27-30.
Someone once told the story of a church member who invited a neighbor to church. The neighbor responded, "I am not going to church because there are too many hypocrites in the church." The church member said, "We have room for one more."
Yes, there are hypocrites in the church. There are Christians and there are demons. Not everyone who becomes a part of and attends church does so to hear the word of God and give praise to his holy name.
Many people do so for different reasons. Some attend church because it is a family tradition, while some attend because church is the place to meet potential husbands and wives. There are those who attend church for social reasons.
In the text Jesus tells a story about a farmer who planted wheat in his field, however, some evil person planted weeds among the wheat. His servants, when they discovered this, wanted to go out and pull up the weeds. The farmer, instead, discouraged them from doing so.
"Let both grow together until the harvest." If you have ever planted corn, you would get a good idea of what the farmer is alluding to. Young corn sprouts and weeds are similar in looks. Unless you know the difference, you would root up the corn sprout for weed. I once had a gardener who did just that.
In the text, Jesus suggests that there is evil in the church, however, it is not for us to decide. We do not know the hearts of man, only God knows that. It is not for you and me to hold inquisitions to determine who is a Christian. That is God's business. Only he can tell.
We can look at the way a person lives and determine that he or she is not walking in the way of the Lord. In such cases, their actions would speak for them. When we see a wayward brother, we in the church should guide the brother or sister back to the right path. However, outside of that, we are not to judge or condemn them.
There are many wolves in sheep's clothing in the church. We don't know them and we cannot find them. That is why the Lord says leave them. "Let both grow together until the harvest." He knows the hearts of man and only he will judge the righteous and the unrighteous.
The Lord will take care of the evildoers in his own time. He is the righteous judge. Therefore, until the day of the final judgment, we are to worship alongside one another. One day God will send his holy angels to make the separation.
So often in our world, we judge other people. We, who are imperfect ourselves, try to distinguish who is righteous and who is unrighteous. Our Lord forbids us to judge because we do not know what is in another's heart.
During our earthly journey, many hypocrites will be in the church. Even though this is so, it is not for us to seek them out, make judgment calls and condemn them. When the day of the great separation comes, God, who knows the heart of man, will determine the difference.
At the great judgment many of us will be surprised. Those who we thought were heaven bound will not be there among the saints. Amen
o Reverend Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at The Lutheran Church of Nassau, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas or telephone: 323-4107; E-mail:lutheranchurch@coralwave.com, Website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.

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